Reviewed by Danielle
TITLE: Ignite
SERIES: Set on Fire #1
AUTHOR: Rebecca James
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 279 Pages
RELEASE DATE: September 10, 2021
BLURB:
It’s the same old story: gay boy falls for his straight best friend.
When Luca’s best friend Michael asks him to pose as his boyfriend for a week at a resort in Miami, Luca’s suddenly given a taste of everything he’s always wanted. And although he knows it’s going to be difficult to go back to the real world, he can’t help but get a little lost in the act. Funny thing is, before this trip Luca would have sworn he knew everything about his best friend. But before they leave Miami, Michael reveals something that Luca never expected.
Tropes: Fake boyfriend, friends-to-lovers, bi-discovery, virgin, tall/short.
REVIEW:
I like this authors works and her style of writing so I was enthusiastic to read something new from her hand after the great Hedonist series.
And this didn’t disappoint, I have to say. I love how the small town vibe does it’s job and Rebecca James set it up wonderfully.
Despite the story starting in a resort in Miami as the blurb says with Luca posing as Michael’s boyfriend, the real story for me starts when Michael comes back to their hometown. He’s full of plans regarding his life but also plans for him and Luca.
I mentioned the small town vibe and I love it. I loved Luca’s family; his pregnant sister and brother-in-law in who’s business Luca also works as a mechanic. The story line introducing Luca’s father, including Luca and Lizzy’s mum. An I also love Michaels completely different parents and his old friends.
The roller rink seems to be a place where stuff is happening and perhaps also will continue happening. It feels like a meet up, hang out place and that is exactly what Michael wanted it to be. I tend to think the author also planned for it to be while writing this book.
The friends to lover trope is strong obviously and I happen to like that. The chemistry is there for sure, but I would have liked to see a bit more sparkling heat so to speak. I noticed myself skipping the more sexual parts which is something I normally enjoy and the encounter I was looking forward to reading happened off page and was just quickly mentioned, which was a tad dissapointing tbh.
The drama that was put in regarding Luca I would have liked to have seen more played out as it is very there in the whole book with the very constant reminder of the stomach pills Luca is taking. Same with Luca and Lizzie and their father.
So there is definitely room for improvement, but that being said, I really liked the characters in this story. Both Luca and Michael as well as their family and friends.
I am more than curious for more of this series and I am hoping that includes some of Michael’s friends 😉
I think this a nice start to a new series and I am curious like I said for more, which I hope will include Michael and Luca.
RATING: 
BUY LINK: